Nudie: The Rodeo Tailor

Library Shelf Location

25.NUDI

Publication Date

2004

Description

Born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1902, Nudie Cohn built an impeccable reputation as one of the most sought after clothiers in Los Angeles... all on a few sparkly G-strings. Nudie the Rodeo Tailor tells the unbelievable story of Nudie and Bobbie Cohn and the legendary fashion legacy they created. Nudie Cohn's first store (Nudie's for the Ladies, New York City) featured those famous and lavishly ornamented G-strings and stage costumes, and allowed him to build a reputation as a master tailor with a taste for the flashy. After a few years, Nudie turned his attention to making western clothing, and became the first person to incorporate rhinestones into cowboy dress. It was the $10,000 gold suit that Nudie made for Elvis Presley that rocketed Nudie to stardom and cemented his status in fashion history; Nudie would go on to design clothing for Dale Evans and Roy Rogers, Elton John, Gene Autry, John Wayne, John Lennon, Steve McQueen, Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, and the rock groups America and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Nudie blurred the boundaries of fashion and cast a far-reaching influence over the clothing worn in country music, rock music, movies, and television. Nudie the Rodeo Tailor chronicles the life of the man who epitomizes the American Dream itself, with an amazing selection of photographs of suits, clothing, accessories, and of Nudie himself with the hundreds of clients and friends he made through the years. Nudie the Rodeo Tailor is the most comprehensive and handsome book on Nudie Cohn and his clothing ever created-a long overdue testament to his spirit and talent. Jamie Lee Nudie was born to Barbara Cohn and Sun Studio-sensation Jimmy Wilson in North Hollywood, California. The granddaughter of Nudie and Bobbie grew up in Nudie's Rodeo Tailors, greeting the stars and clientele with the same friendly persona. Jamie is a mother of three children living in the San Fernando Valley, caring for her grandmother Bobbie Nudie and working on many projects pertaining to the Nudie legacy. Mary Lynn Cabrall was born in Castro Valley, California, and has always dreamed of becoming a cowgirl. She learned leather tooling, and her interest in vintage clothing led her to start mimicking Nudie suits. Mary Lynn later acquired a sixty-year-old chain-stitch embroidery machine, and she took up the art of machine embroidery. Today Mary Lynn and Jamie Lee work to re-create the Nudie magic. Leatherwork, silverwork, embroidery, rhinestones, and the best rodeo tailoring money can buy can be still be ordered from Nudie's Rodeo Tailors.

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art is supported by Arts Council England & Gateshead Council.
BALTIC 39 is supported by Newcastle City Council & Arts Council England.
Design by Founded.
Build by AYO Digital.